The Museum of the Union
The Museum of the Union within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iasi
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The Museum of the Union is situated in the city centre, on 14, Lapusneanu Str., and contains a valuable patrimony of modern history.
The museum building is in itself the most important museum exhibit. Even without any furniture, the edifice is a point of attraction. The age of the construction, the architectural style, the positioning in its urban landscape and especially the exceptional destiny of the building, which was the residence of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza and later of on King Ferdinand are arguments in this regard.
Built at the beginning of the 19th century in neoclassical style, during the decades that followed, the house became the property of several famous noble families of Moldavia : Catargi, Paladi, Cantacuzino-Pascanu, Ghica.
Between 1859-1862, the palace was rented for serving as residence of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Prince of the United Romanian Principalities. Used as such during four years, the building has been remembered ever after as the “Cuza Palace”.
For more than half a century, between 1886 and 1937, the building was the property of the Urban Credit Society in Iasi.
During World War I, when the city of Bucharest was occupied by the German troops, king Ferdinand the Unifier (named so for having achieved the Great Union of 1918), established here, in this edifice, his general quarters.
Starting with 1937, the building has become State property and was declared a historical monument in which, at the upper floor, following historian Nicolae Iorga\' advice, there was founded the museum of “Prince Cuza Palace”.
Under the current name, Museum of the Union, the edifice has been functioning since 24 January 1959. The museum has recently been restored and rearranged, displaying now important collections concerning the history of the Union of the Romanian Principalities.
The ground floor thematically presents the epoch of the Union and a history of the building. Among the topics approached, mention should be made of those concerning the double election of the same Prince in the two Romanian Principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia, the actors of the Union, the reforming policy of Prince Al.I.Cuza.
The upper floor illustrates the princely apartments and contains the main spaces of the princely residence at mid 19th century: working cabinets of the Prince and of Princess Elena Cuza, the dining room, the reception hall, the billiards room, the Princess' reception room, a bedroom.
The museum patrimony includes a wide variety of items of special historical, memorial, documentary, and also artistic value: documents, rare books, old maps, photographs, costumes, decorative art (furniture, porcelain, silver ware, clocks, lighting items, carpets) belonging to the Cuza princely family, but also to the aristocrats of the period. The museum also has a valuable collection of old coins and medals.
Apart from the main activities, specific to the museum, the institution also organizes programs of museum pedagogy, musical evenings, symposia, congresses, book launching events.
Visiting hours: 10-17 Tuesday to Sunday.
The price of the ticket is 4 lei for adults, 2 lei for pupils and students, and retired persons as well. Free entrance: preschool kids, pupils during school holidays, persons with special needs and socially protected, official delegations, as well other cultural delegations, employees of the museum network of the Ministry of Culture, Religious Affairs and National Heritage. On first Tuesday of each month, we offer free entrance for organized groups of preschool kids, pupils, students and military personnel. The price for the guided tours is 25 lei/hour.
Booking of guided tours and educational programs, as well as further information by phone at the following number (004) 0232 314614.